A Canadian-based Nigerian doctor, Arinze Onwumelu, also known as Dr Zo, has said nonchalant attitudes of Nigerians toward their healthcare are the same everywhere.
The doctor, in an interview published with the Punch Newspaper on Saturday, compared the healthcare system of Canada and Nigeria, rating Nigeria below average.
He described both health systems as “night and day,” but added that despite the free medical care in Canada, Nigerians there don’t often take the advantage of it.
He said, “To be honest with you, Nigerians are Nigerians. Even Nigerians here in Canada are still Nigerians. They don’t bother about healthcare that much but that’s what we do. We go around and preach to people. I talk to a lot of Nigerians in organisations to take their health seriously. The reason is that when you are in Canada, the health services have been paid for, so it’s free. We tell them why they are cheating themselves. Nigerians behave as if they only come to see you when they run into problems. Even a doctor had a COVID and he didn’t know he was diabetic. Nigerians are like that all over the world, but it takes a bit of education and awareness for us to get to what we desire.
“the healthcare system in Canada and Nigeria is like night and day! When I left Nigeria 23 years ago, I made myself a promise to return to Nigeria after about 10 years and settle down in Nigeria. See what happens when you practice medicine abroad; I have worked here as a doctor for 23 years and we are trained to be transparent to our patients. There is no reason to lie. You tell them the diagnosis, everything is clear to them.”
The doctor also advised on Japa syndrome, saying “With the way things are in the country, you cannot advise anyone with an opportunity to travel not to do it. Personally, I believe that every doctor in Nigeria should practise for a while abroad. There are things that they only read in textbooks and they have to experience it here because they are not available in Nigeria. It improves quality. For medical practitioners, and all professionals in other sectors, I don’t have a problem with that. For instance, I made plans to go back home and I keep changing my mind because things are getting worse in the country. So, are you going to blame the people looking for greener pastures to better their lives or the politicians who are mismanaging the resources? It is a no-brainer that anyone would support Japa syndrome because you want the people on the ground to survive. I look at my country now and I weep.
“You must learn how things are done in the West. In my opinion, it’s a bit more difficult to get yourself into the system here in Canada compared to the UK. But, it’s more forgiven when you work here as a Nigerian doctor than in the UK. Medicine is a total package here. Even if you know the whole thing, there are still a lot of semantics. Remember that English is not our first language. You have to learn how to talk to patients. You must know things are done in the West.
“I’m saying this as someone who has been in the West for 23 years. I’ve been to over 70 cities in the world. I have a lot of experience when it comes to travel. Calgary in Canada remains the best place for me. I’ve never seen people as nice as these people. So, I will say that if you are travelling to Canada, I do say it’s a land of milk and honey. It’s the best gift you can give to your kids. You know sometimes when you will come over, there will be a downgrade and saying I was this and that in Nigeria. Don’t look at it in that perspective. Look at it from the perspective of the future of your kids. The trajectory will change because you have given yourself a quality of life.”
